Centro de Información sobre Empresas y Derechos Humanoshttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/_rss?langcode=es&keywords=&pagenum=0&sortby=datedesc
esEntrevista de Luis Miguel Cano López, PODER (Mexico)https://www.business-humanrights.org/es/entrevista-de-luis-miguel-cano-l%C3%B3pez-poder-mexico
Archivo de audio de la entrevista aquí.
Thu, 11 Jan 2018 14:34:16 +0000cadier_4429166810 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgMozambique: Mining co's allegedly forcing local farmer communities out of Tete Provincehttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/174033
"The cost of land grabbing in Mozambique's Tete Province"
[L]arge scale resettlements are forcing ... out [local farmers]. Communities faced problems accessing food and water, as documented by Human Rights Watch... They were relocated to distant villages [...] with agricultural land of uneven quality and unreliable access to water... When locals gathered [to protest], Vale Mozambique called for police intervention... As the tension grew, police ... opened fire, [killing] Hussene Antonio... The company supported the funeral ceremonies [...] after which a community meeting was held in the presence of Wilco Uys, Vale’s head of operations in Moatize. Wilco Uys asked the locals to respect the boundaries of the concession area... However, he did not comment on the lack of communication between the company and local government, as well as the breach of continuing agreement on the gate. Instead, he said: “People are opportunists and want to take advantage of the gate to steal from the company. Why are they building their houses next to the forbidden zone?" ...The company is [...] negotiating both with the community leaders and the local government at the district level to overcome the dispute. [also refers to Rio Tinto, Riversdale Resources Limited, Jindal Steel and Power Limited]
"Sourced by RepRisk due diligence on ESG and business conduct risks,www.reprisk.com".
Wed, 27 Jun 2018 13:14:29 +0000hallab_4548174033 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgHonduras: ONG acusa que proyecto de termoeléctrica se inició sin previa consulta y que puede afectar al medio ambientehttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/honduras-ong-acusa-que-proyecto-de-termoel%C3%A9ctrica-se-inici%C3%B3-sin-previa-consulta-y-que-puede-afectar-al-medio-ambiente
“¿Áreas protegidas en la república mafiosa de Honduras?”, 9 de agosto de 2018
…[C]omo parte del proceso de privatización de las áreas protegidas y la subasta del territorio nacional, el actual gobierno optó por el uso de una de las zonas de mayor biodiversidad del país, para convertirla en el lugar de instalación una termoeléctrica a base de bunker c, para la producción de 87 megavatios de energía…El pasado 11 de julio la municipalidad de La Ceiba convocó a un cabildo abierto en relación a la instalación de una planta termoeléctrica en La Ensenada, entre las comunidades Garífunas de Sambo Creek y Corozal. El grupo Laeisz… fue uno de los favorecidos… [con contratos] de producción de energía…otorgado por la Empresa Nacional de Energía Eléctrica (ENEE). La municipalidad de Ceiba omitió efectuar la consulta previa, libre e informada que debería haberse efectuado mucho antes de la firma del contrato…[L]a decisión de la construcción de la termoeléctrica en una zona altamente rica en biodiversidad…La OFRANEH exige el respeto a la consulta previa libre e informada, además condenamos y hacemos un llamado a detener la campaña desatada contra las comunidades Garifunas de Sambo Creek y Corozal, acusadas de oponerse al supuesto “desarrollo”…
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 23:04:15 +0000ortiz_4435175648 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgMéxico: Comunidades indígenas de Puebla exigen al nuevo gobierno se detengan proyectos de fractura hidráulicahttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/m%C3%A9xico-comunidades-ind%C3%ADgenas-de-puebla-exigen-al-nuevo-gobierno-se-detengan-proyectos-de-fractura-hidr%C3%A1ulica
“Exigen pueblos indígenas de la Sierra Norte poner alto al fracking”, 11 de agosto de 2018
…Para conmemorar el Día de los Pueblos Indígenas se llevó a cabo un foro…donde se dio a conocer que los partidos políticos han dejado solos a los indígenas en su defensa por sus ríos y bosques en la Sierra Norte, por lo que totonacos, otomíes y nahuas han logrado frenar los “proyectos de muerte”, como han llamado a los programas de las mineras internacionales, CFE y Pemex que han querido afectar sus tierras para la introducción de gasoductos y para la explotación de minerales. Gerardo Pérez Muñoz, representante de la Asamblea de Afectados Ambientales, Capítulo Puebla denunció que existe la propuesta de seguir en 36 municipios de la Sierra Norte con la práctica del fracking, ya que hay datos de la Secretaría de Energía de que se podrían ejecutar mil 446 pozos en las montañas serranas para extraer gas de lutita. En el foro dijo que esperan que con la salida del Gobierno Federal la nueva administración le ponga fin a los atentados que se pretenden cometer con la naturaleza de la Sierra Norte…
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 23:14:24 +0000ortiz_4435175649 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgMéxico: Comisión de Derechos Humanos recuerda que falta de regulación a empresas extractivas dificulta acceso a derechos a personas indígenashttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/m%C3%A9xico-comisi%C3%B3n-de-derechos-humanos-recuerda-que-falta-de-regulaci%C3%B3n-a-empresas-extractivas-dificulta-acceso-a-derechos-a-personas-ind%C3%ADgenas
“Continúa discriminación y violencia contra pueblos indígenas: CNDH”, 9 de agosto de 2018
…La Comisión Nacional de los Derechos Humanos (CNDH) indicó que la discriminación y la violencia contra los pueblos indígenas continúa y alertó que no se ha logrado consolidar la tutela efectiva de sus derechos en el sistema de prácticas sociales, jurídicas y políticas en el país, a pesar de contar con uno de los mecanismos jurídicos más eficaces. El organismo indicó que 15.7 millones de personas forman parte de la comunidad indígena de México y 6.6 millones de ellos hablan una lengua originaria…Destacó la “falta de reconocimiento de los sistemas normativos de los pueblos y comunidades indígenas y la inobservancia del derecho a la consulta libre, previa e informada, ausencia de empleos bien retribuidos y tolerancia del trabajo infantil y sus peores formas, falta de regulación de las empresas trasnacionales extractoras de recursos naturales (mineras y eólicas), dificultad en el acceso a la justicia de las personas indígenas, incluida la problemática de personas en reclusión”. La CNDH recordó que la Encuesta Nacional sobre Discriminación…arrojó que 75.6% de las…personas entrevistadas considera que las personas indígenas son poco valoradas por la mayoría de la gente; cinco de cada 10 estima que los derechos de esa población son poco o nada respetados…
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 23:29:13 +0000ortiz_4435175650 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgChile: ONG denuncia interceptaciones e intimidaciones por su trabajo legal a favor de indígenas investigados en casos que involucran empresas forestaleshttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/chile-ong-denuncia-interceptaciones-e-intimidaciones-por-su-trabajo-legal-a-favor-de-ind%C3%ADgenas-investigados-en-casos-que-involucran-empresas-forestales
“Declaración pública: a propósito de actos de hostigamiento en contra de defensores populares” – 10 de agosto de 2018
En el ejercicio de la defensa de las y los luchadores sociales, estamos expuestos a la acción de personas o grupos de individuos que de modo coordinado intentan amedrentarnos…El día martes 7 de agosto uno de nuestros compañeros, el abogado Lorenzo Morales Cortés, sufrió una masiva intervención cibernética de sus comunicaciones y redes sociales que fue puesto en conocimiento de la Policía de Investigaciones, y que en los próximos días significará ingresar una querella por diversos delitos en contra de los que resulten responsables de los mismos.
…Actualmente, somos denunciantes o querellantes en causas relacionadas con funcionarios de carabineros, autoridades políticas y personas relacionadas a grupos de interés que están enfrentados a luchadores, activistas u organizaciones sociales. Creemos que parte de los riesgos de asumir tales causas es, justamente, llamar la atención de la élite y de los poderosos y por lo mismo, queremos poner en conocimiento público tales situaciones, y hacer presente que en ningún caso nos va a generar otra cosa que la convicción de que vamos por el camino correcto...
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 13:13:03 +0000romero175603 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgConferencia: ¿Quiénes se benefician de los beneficios tributarios?https://www.business-humanrights.org/es/conferencia-%C2%BFqui%C3%A9nes-se-benefician-de-los-beneficios-tributarios
Una Mirada a la situación colombiana y latinoamericana
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 16:39:19 +0000romero175627 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgColombia: Comentario intimidación a personas defensoras de derechos humanos por las empresas a nivel global y en el contexto de la Jurisdicción Especial de Pazhttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/colombia-comentario-intimidaci%C3%B3n-a-personas-defensoras-de-derechos-humanos-por-las-empresas-a-nivel-global-y-en-el-contexto-de-la-jurisdicci%C3%B3n-especial-de-paz
“Prevenir la Intimidación Corporativa de los Sujetos de Derechos” - 13 de agosto de 2018
¿Cuál es el problema con el buen nombre de empresas en el contexto de la JEP? Que los combatientes podrían mencionar a empresas y empresarios que participaron en los delitos, fuera directamente o como financiadores, determinadores o, incluso, obligados por la fuerza de las armas…
¿Cuál es el problema con el buen nombre de empresas en el contexto de la JEP? Fácil, los combatientes que van a la JEP se comprometen a contar su versión de los hechos respecto de los delitos que cometieron, a cambio de una pena reducida. En ese marco, podría mencionar a empresas y empresarios que participaron en los delitos, fuera directamente o como financiadores, determinadores o, incluso, obligados por la fuerza de las armas. Esto no es una hipótesis sin confirmar: un estudio reciente de Dejusticia y la Transitional Justice Network de la Universidad de Essex muestra que sólo en las versiones de los paramilitares, rendidas desde 2006 ante la Fiscalía General de la Nación y consignadas en sentencias emitidas por tribunales de Justicia y Paz, se mencionó 766 veces a actores económicos que presuntamente participaron en delitos en el marco del conflicto armado. [Se reriere a Cambridge Analytica, Facebook, Tungkum, Vinci, Postobón, parte de Organización Ardila Lulle]
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 17:07:35 +0000romero175629 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgArgentina: Los impactos de la operación petrolera en Vaca Muerta en el contexto del Plan Nacional de Acción sobre empresas y derechos humanos; visiones de ONG y gobierno localhttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/argentina-los-impactos-de-la-operaci%C3%B3n-petrolera-en-vaca-muerta-en-el-contexto-del-plan-nacional-de-acci%C3%B3n-sobre-empresas-y-derechos-humanos-visiones-de-ong-y-gobierno-local
Mientras que las organizaciones no gubernamentales han venido documentando desde hace tiempo la situación de las comunidades aledañas a la explotación petrolera Vaca Muerta, como el informe del Observatorio Petrolero del Sur, que ya en 2016 anotaba las consecuencias indeseables de este modelo de energía para las comunidades, en un sitio donde YPF, Total Austral y Pluspetrol han llevado a cabo extracción por el método del Fracking.
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 20:13:16 +0000romero175637 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgEspaña: La directora de proveedora de Mercadona es distinguida en premio de diversidad por Caixabankhttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/espa%C3%B1a-la-directora-de-proveedora-de-mercadona-es-distinguida-en-premio-de-diversidad-por-caixabank
Rocío Hervella gana el Premio Mujer Empresaria 2018 de CaixaBank” – 7 de agosto de 2018
La empresaria Rocío Hervella, que dirige la empresa de productos solubles Prosol, proveedora de Mercadona, ha ganado el Premio Mujer Empresaria 2018 que otorga Caixabank, un galardón que reconoce la trayectoria de mujeres directivas en España y busca contribuir a dar visibilidad a las líderes femeninas de empresas…El jurado, compuesto por el comité de Diversidad de CaixaBank e integrado por directivos miembros del comité de dirección y por los líderes de los proyectos de diversidad, ha elegido a Hervella de entre las catorce candidaturas "por su trayectoria profesional, por su fuerza y energía en la creación de la empresa", según un comunicado de la entidad…Asimismo, el tribunal ha valorado el proyecto de internacionalización que ha liderado en Prosol y su capacidad para conseguir posicionar la empresa "como un referente en el sector".
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 20:46:18 +0000romero175641 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgParaguay: La Fiscalía General denunció a los magistrados que anularon la condena a 11 campesinos por la masacre de Curuguaty, donde ningún policía fue investigadohttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/paraguay-la-fiscal%C3%ADa-general-denunci%C3%B3-a-los-magistrados-que-anularon-la-condena-a-11-campesinos-por-la-masacre-de-curuguaty-donde-ning%C3%BAn-polic%C3%ADa-fue-investigado
“Denuncian a magistrados que anularon condena por caso Curuguaty” – 7 de agosto de 2018
La fiscal general de Paraguay, Sandra Quiñónez, presentó el pasado lunes una denuncia ante el Jurado de Enjuiciamiento de Magistrados (JEM) contra los magistrados Emilio Rolón, Arnaldo Martínez y Cristóbla Sánchez, por de anular la sentencia de los 11 campesinos condenados por la masacre de Curuguatay…A finales de julio, la Sala Penal de la Corte anuló la condena y absolvió de culpa a campesinos del caso masacre de Curuguaty por falta de pruebas para inculparlos del caso…Activistas de derechos humanos han denunciado que los acusados sufrieron torturas y son sobrevivientes de la masacre…Ahora, Quiñonez ha solicitado a la JEM dictar sentencia definitiva y remover a los tres magistrados de sus cargos. A juicio de la Fiscalía, los magistrados cometieron errores jurídicos que no pueden ocurrir…La masacre se produjo en junio de 2012 durante un desalojo policial de una finca ocupada por campesinos. Como resultado murieron 17 personas (11 trabajadores del campo y seis policías).
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 20:56:36 +0000romero175642 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgDiplomado en Salud Mental: Extractivismo, megaproyectos y defensa del territorio: daños psicosociales y propuestas de acompañamiento.https://www.business-humanrights.org/es/diplomado-en-salud-mental-extractivismo-megaproyectos-y-defensa-del-territorio-da%C3%B1os-psicosociales-y-propuestas-de-acompa%C3%B1amiento
Programación Cursos On-line
Durante el curso pasado (2017/2018) se inscribieron a nuestros cursos 300 participantes, valorando especialmente su calidad y nivel de profundización. Los cursos de la primera edición, que se impartieron exitosamente, fueron 13 a lo largo de 10 meses, siendo para el equipo de formación un gran éxito inicial. En la segunda y tercera edición, se impartieron asimismo 9 / 8 cursos con gran éxito.
La quinta edición arrancará el próximomes de septiembre de 2018, con el bloque A, con una propuesta de 3 cursos. Esperamos que la oferta sea de su interés.
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 21:27:47 +0000romero175644 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgGuatemala: Communities call on Inter-American Development Bank to withdraw investment from PDHSA dams following alleged human rights abuseshttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175557
"Guatemalan indigenous communities file complaint for dams’ damages", 6 of August, 2018
…Indigenous communities affected by Guatemala’s Pojom II and San Andrés dams have called on the Inter-American Development Bank to withdraw its investment in the mega-projects. A complaint filed before the Bank’s independent accountability mechanism explains how the serious social and environmental damages caused by the planning and construction of the dams resulted from the projects’ failure to comply with the Bank’s operational policies... “The damages caused by the projects’ implementation are the result of non-compliance with the Bank’s operational policies, particularly its policies on environment and sustainability, indigenous people, gender, and information disclosure,” explained Liliana Ávila, AIDA attorney. The complaint details how the dams were authorized without adequate community consultation, and how those affected did not receive sufficient information on the risks. In addition, community members who have peacefully resisted the projects have suffered attacks, threats, and harassment; in 2017, they reported the murder of one local resident, which has yet to be resolved…[A]lso caused severe environmental damage, including water scarcity and pollution, which have affected local people’s ability to fish, grow food, and maintain their tradition lifestyle…The Pojom II hydroelectric plant is operated by…subsidiaries of Promoción y Desarrollos Hídricos S.A., a Guatemalan company…
Mon, 13 Aug 2018 19:56:59 +0000ortiz_4435175557 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgBHP says Samarco dam disaster settlement agreement approved by Brazilian courthttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175580
"BHP says Samarco settlement approved", 10 August 2018
...BHP says a federal court in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais approved an agreement between miner Samarco and Brazil authorities, marking a milestone in the legal battle over a deadly 2015 dam failure.
A 20 billion reals ($US5.3 billion, $A7.2 billion) lawsuit against Samarco, which is a joint venture of BHP and Vale SA, was quashed by the accord, which was signed in June. An even more expansive lawsuit was also suspended under the agreement.
The company said it had separately agreed to pay $US50 million as part of a settlement for a class-action complaint filed by American depositary receipt (ADR) holders over the disaster...
Samarco told Reuters in a statement...that next year it expects to obtain licenses needed to resume operations.
...BHP still faces a class action in Australia over the dam's failure.
Mon, 13 Aug 2018 23:58:24 +0000sinclair_4386175580 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgKenya: Report claims communities impacted by Akiira Geothermal's operations not adequately consulted; includes company response & NGOs' rejoinderhttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175582
A report by International Accountability Project (IAP) allege some members of the local community impacted by Akiira Geothermal's operations did not have access to information about the proposed project neither were they consulted. The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre invited Akiira Geothermal to respond to the allegations. Akiira Geothermal denied the allegations and said its stakeholder engagement plan is based on IFC standards. IAP further refuted the company's response, saying the claim of inadequate consultation was inconsistent with its findings from field research
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 05:12:39 +0000kibugu175582 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgReport says communities impacted by Akiira Geothermal not adequately consulted https://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175583
Akiira 1 Geothermal Power Plant Project: Maasai Community in Kenya Affected by Another Geothermal Power Project Speaks Out”
Akiira 1 Geothermal Power Project (EIB-20140645) is Akiira Geothermal Limited's first geothermal exploration and power plant development project located south of the Greater Olkaria Geothermal Complex in Naivasha, Kenya… In April 2018, Narasha Community Development Group, in partnership with the International Accountability Project (IAP), worked together to provide project information through the Early Warning System to affected communities to facilitate their engagement in the project process. Dissemination of project information was followed by a community led research to gather information about their knowledge and expertise, and to seek recommendations for their effective engagement in the implementation of the project…
64% of the respondents indicated they were not consulted during the formulation of the project. However, the results indicate that 29% of the 36% who were consulted felt unsafe to share their true feelings, questions and ideas about the project while 33% indicated that they felt safe. One of the reasons that respondents that felt unsafe cited was fear of harassment by the company in case they expressed views opposing the project…At the time the data was collected, 73% of the respondents did not have information about the Akiira 1 Geothermal Power Plant Project and they lacked sufficient information regarding the project details such as where, when and how the company intends to carry out its activities…
47% of the respondents anticipate that they may lose their jobs/livelihoods while 43% may lose their land to the project without clear mechanism for compensation and/or resettlement.
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 05:22:05 +0000kibugu175583 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgAkiira Geothermal's response https://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175584
"Akiira Geothermal's response"
Akiira stakeholder engagement plan is based on IFC standards and is well recognized by Ministry of Energy, GRMF among others as the best implemented so far. We have taken an active role in engaging the affected communities ensuring gender equality, youth, elderly and people with disability participation. Our engagement also ensures we respect customary beliefs and practices of the local communities. The SEP also identifies affected community based on impact. The stakeholder action plan has a schedule of meeting and activities to be conducted through the life of the project which include project kick off meetings, air and noise report meeting, open day, grievance report meeting etc
The company has implemented the action plan; conducted several meeting prior to its formulation and there are minutes and reports to show the same. We have been audited by lenders and other international organization on the same, we have responded to issues and concerns to their satisfaction. Akiira has a grievance mechanism, which all affected communities are aware of including the kambiturkana village. We have forms in or office, which many have used in the past. We also have had follow up meeting to address the grievance raised throughout the various phases of the project.
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 05:34:04 +0000kibugu175584 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgAkiira Geothermal's response https://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175585
"Akiira Geothermal's response"
Akiira stakeholder engagement plan is based on IFC standards and is well recognized by Ministry of Energy, GRMF among others as the best implemented so far. We have taken an active role in engaging the affected communities ensuring gender equality, youth, elderly and people with disability participation. Our engagement also ensures we respect customary beliefs and practices of the local communities. The SEP also identifies affected community based on impact. The stakeholder action plan has a schedule of meeting and activities to be conducted through the life of the project which include project kick off meetings, air and noise report meeting, open day, grievance report meeting etc
The company has implemented the action plan; conducted several meeting prior to its formulation and there are minutes and reports to show the same. We have been audited by lenders and other international organization on the same, we have responded to issues and concerns to their satisfaction. Akiira has a grievance mechanism, which all affected communities are aware of including the kambiturkana village. We have forms in or office, which many have used in the past. We also have had follow up meeting to address the grievance raised throughout the various phases of the project.
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 05:34:05 +0000kibugu175585 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgInternational Accountability Project's rejoinder https://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175586
"Rejoinder by International Accountability Project"
The findings highlighted issues related to communities’ access to project information, Akiira Geothermal Limited’s consultation and involvement of the communities in the project project, benefit sharing and the project’s benefit to the communities. For example, the findings indicate that 64% of the respondents in the affected communities were never consulted during the design phase of the project, and among those who were consulted, 73% of the respondents lacked sufficient information to provide informed opinions and ideas about the project.
From these and other findings, we invite Akiira Geothermal Limited to respond directly to the concerns raised by the community members, which include:
1. Providing for their full and unconditional participation in decision-making, including the free will to elect trusted representatives to the committees who can uphold their interests without any undue influence from the company or its agents.
2. Fulfilling its obligations under the Constitution of Kenya (2010) and Community Land Act (2016) including compensation for land, pollution control and provision of alternative livelihoods (guarantee job opportunities and capacity building to the communities) and based on mutual agreement between Akiira Geothermal Limited and affected communities.
3. Having a clearly negotiated and agreed upon benefit sharing formula based on Section 35(1) of the Community Land Act that stipulates that natural resources found on community land shall be used and managed for the benefit of the whole community including future generations and on the basis of equitable sharing of accruing benefits.
4. Recognizing Kambiturkana Village residents who were excluded from all negotiations involving the Akiira Geothermal Limited and the community as owners of the land that they occupy, provide them with regular project information updates and consider them in the project’s benefit sharing and decision making processes.
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 05:41:52 +0000kibugu175586 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgRejoinder by Narasha Community Development Group https://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175587
"Narasha Community Development Group (NCDG) Response to Akiira Geothermal Limited on their reply to the briefer of the research done by IAP and NCDG on Akiira 1 Geothermal Power Plant"
I wish to categorically recognise some good practices by the company such as holding frequent meetings with the committee, workshops, and visits to the neighboring schools. However, I wish to highlight specific areas that should be strengthened:
Improve on sharing information to the whole community without depending on the committee. This has left the majority of the community in darkness. · Ensure inclusivity in your engagement by ensuring every affected community is fairly represented in the committee and continuous engagements without leaving any one behind. · Ensure that feedback from the community is received and action taken to address their concerns. · Ensure FPIC is applied to this community in order to prevent violation of cultural and religious rights. Maa is a culturally rich community and neglecting such will affect the generations to come. · Prevent adverse environmental impacts, such as pollution and where it occurs, mitigation measures should be taken. · Respect other people's opinions, accept positive criticism and build strong relations with all stakeholders including civil societies. Civil society organizations are registered, recognized and accepted in Kenya through the constitution and internationally through international protocols. · Conduct studies on the strength and weaknesses of the other companies and ensure they do not repeat their failures. · Address issues around land, environment, cultural and community engagements in the course of project implementation. Narasha Community Development Group will continue working with the community to build their capacity, raise early warning in the area, advise the companies on issues that need to be addressed and ensure rights of all citizen are respected by these companies as they operate in their communities.
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 05:47:08 +0000kibugu175587 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgUganda: Govt. agency to start mandatory certification of products to safeguard environment and consumers' health & safetyhttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175588
"UNBS to start mandatory certification of products"
All local products that are covered by compulsory standards must be certified with the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) Distinctive Mark formerly known as the Q-Mark, starting this August. This has been disclosed by the UNBS Chief Executive Ben Manyindo while giving highlights of the bureau’s performance...in Kampala. Manyindo says that the move is to safeguard public health, safety and the environment from products that do not meet the standards. He adds that the move is also aimed at promoting the competitiveness of local products regionally and internationally and to support the Buy Uganda Build Uganda policy. Compulsory standards are those that have safety implications for people and the environment, like standards to do with the processing of food, cosmetics, etc.
According to Manyindo, previously certification of products was done on a voluntary basis but with the new Distinctive Mark Regulations of 2018, all affected products are expected to comply, adding that implementation will be sector-by-sector. On certified products and system permits in the previous year, Manyindo reported that 849 were approved against the set target of 820. But overall, there are just 1,150 permits from 353 companies on the UNBS certification scheme. Some of the standards are for maize grain, maize flour, wheat flour, milled rice, dry beans, green coffee beans and farm tools, among others. In terms of certification by region, Manyindo says products from the North are the least certified, with the bulk of certified products concentrated in central Uganda.
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 06:30:08 +0000kibugu175588 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgSo. Africa: Business association says proposed laws meant to reduce deaths from tobacco-related complications could "damage" the economy https://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175591
"Calls mount for government to scrap proposed new tobacco laws"
The National African Federated Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Nafcoc) has joined the growing chorus of calls for government to scap its proposed new tobacco laws. Several lobby groups and business organisations have already warned that the Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill will hurt the economy and lead to job losses. The bill seeks to, among other measures, control and ban smoking in public areas, limit the display of tobacco products at point of sale, and introduce plain packaging of tobacco products. The Department of Health says stricter tobacco laws will further reduce tobacco use and prevent millions of people dying from tobacco related illnesses such as heart attacks and strokes...
Nafcoc, which seeks to promote and encourage the development of small businesses, said the bill, particularly the introduction of plain packaging, seems to be in direct conflict with SA’s competition policy. "We are also concerned about potential damage to the economy by the proposed bill, such as reducing free and fair competition," said Nafcoc president Lawrence Mavundla.
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 07:30:55 +0000kibugu175591 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgCommentary: States should employ international investment agreements to protect the rights of affected individuals and communitieshttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175594
"Managing States' "Fatal Attraction" to International Investment Agreements", 13 August 2018
In an era of investment-driven development, almost all states are constantly looking to create an environment conducive to attracting foreign investment...Investment is critical to development...However, it appears that attracting investment often becomes an end in itself, with states paying little or no attention to "investment for what" and "investment for whom" aspects...A three-prong approach is needed to ensure that IIAs do not result in asymmetrical empowerment of investors or inequitable and unsustainable economic development. In the pre-negotiation stage, states should first develop...an investment policy which identifies the "for what" and "for whom" aspects of foreign investment as well as development priorities...The second prong should be about managing the content of IIAs in a way that both investment and investors contribute to the realisation of all human rights of everyone...The third prong should pay attention to fixing the existing state-investor dispute settlement (ISDS) process, which has received lot of criticism for investors holding states to ransom and ignoring legitimate concerns of communities affected by investment projects...In short, states should adopt a more holistic approach towards IIAs: instead of treating these as merely an investment vehicle, IIAs should be employed to realise the human development potential of investment, especially for those who need it the most.
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 09:03:58 +0000ducret_4487175594 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgThailand: Thammasaket Poultry Farm files fifth set of criminal charges against former migrant workershttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175595
"Thammakaset Poultry Farm Files Fifth Set of Criminal Charges in Thailand, Prosecutes Former Myanmar Migrant Workers Again for Theft", 13 August 2018
Today two of 14 migrant workers from Myanmar, who alleged suffering labour and human rights abuses whilst working at Thammakaset Farm Co. Ltd. poultry farm in Lopburi Province of Thailand, reported alongside lawyers from NSP Legal Office to give statements at Khok Dtum police station in the province. This follows the farm's filing of a fifth set of criminal charges in relation to an ongoing dispute against them, other workers and NGO activists...If convicted of the latest criminal charges filed by Thammakaset on 1st August 2018 under section 335 (11) of Thailand's Criminal Code, the two workers face up to five years in prison and/or a 100, 000 baht fine...This increasingly publicised SLAPP (Strategic Litigation Against Public Participation) case has seen Thammakaset already file two separate criminal cases against the 14 workers for defamation, giving false information to public officials and theft. Both cases, dismissed by a first instance Court and Lopburi Public Prosecutor respectively, are still however being pursued on appeal and through private prosecutions by Thammakaset within the Thai justice system...In addition, Thammakaset has filed three additional criminal cases against the workers, NGO activists and has also threatened more prosecutions including against local Thai journalists.
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 09:20:46 +0000ducret_4487175595 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgEgypt: Photo essay denounces the health consequences of Titan Cement Company's plant on local residentshttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175596
"A Portrait of an Egyptian Neighborhood Breathing Toxic Dust", 7 August 2018
Wadi el-Qamar — or Moon Valley — is a teeming residential quarter in western Alexandria, one of Egypt's largest cities...Today, black clouds of exhaust billow from the chimneys of the Alexandria Portland Cement Company, a subsidiary of a Greek cement and building materials producer, less than a mile away. Because Moon Valley lies directly in the path of the factory's emissions, toxic cement dust blankets the homes of nearly half of its residents, leading to numerous cases of chest infections and asthma. The Egyptian photographer Mohamed Mahdy brings the issue to light in his project, "Moon Dust."...Mr. Mahdy — using black and white to expose "raw feelings" — juxtaposed an image of Yousef, a boy with asthma who is confined to his home, with another image of children playing soccer...In one portrait, we see Amal, 11, wearing a breathing mask. In another, we see an X-ray of her weakened lungs. She developed asthma months after moving to Moon Valley at age 3, and has to wear the mask every day...Mr. Mahdy said some residents have been trying to call attention to the problem for 10 years. They have repeatedly filed complaints to the Ministry of Environment and taken legal steps against the factory over its harmful emissions. But rather than address the issue, the plant urged the community members, most of whom are impoverished, to relocate.
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 09:34:06 +0000ducret_4487175596 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgHow to find the missing millions using our new data handbookhttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175599
This webinar will present an overview of Finding the Missing Millions, outlining key principles for using data to hold governments and companies to account for extractive industry revenues, and showcasing some of the methodologies included in the handbook. The webinar will be in English.
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 10:08:27 +0000Janjic_4504175599 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgGlobal Witness launches tool to fight corruption & tax avoidance in oil, gas & mining industrieshttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175600
"WHY THE WORLD NEEDS OUR NEW DATA HANDBOOK", 9 August 2018
Global Witness launches Finding the Missing Millions, a ground-breaking tool for rooting out corruption and tax avoidance in the oil, gas and mining industries.
The handbook includes 10 different methods for using revenue data to hold governments and industry to account, together with ‘real life’ case examples to show how this can be done. Anyone with access to the internet and some spare time can carry out the methods featured in the handbook. We hope that you will take advantage of this important new tool to make governments and companies accountable for vital public revenues. You can learn more in this blog and watch short video tutorials that demonstrate some of the methods featured in the handbook available here.
On Wednesday, September 26, Global Witness will host a webinar to give an overview of the handbook. Please save the date and register your interest here!
Should you have any questions, please contact Dominic Eagleton at deagleton@globalwitness.org.
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 10:29:14 +0000hallab_4548175600 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgBurkina Faso: Des gendarmes assurant la sécurité du personnel de la SEMAFO et un employé de l'entreprise meurent dans l'explosion d'une voiture https://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175602
"Région de l’Est : Le bilan de l’explosion du véhicule de la gendarmerie passe à six morts", 12 aout 2018
Un véhicule de la gendarmerie nationale chargé de l’escorte du personnel de la société minière SEMAFO SA, à Boungou, a sauté sur une mine artisanale...Le premier bilan de cette explosion faisait état de cinq morts : quatre gendarmes et un civil. Ce dernier, employé de la société SEMAFO, était le conducteur du véhicule. Un véhicule a aussi été endommagé (celui des gendarmes)...Aux dernières nouvelles, le corps d’un cinquième gendarme été retrouvé sur les lieux, à l’arrivée des équipes de constatation. C’est grâce aux fouilles de l’équipe que ce sixième corps a été retrouvé. Notons que le village de Boungou est situé dans la province de la Tapoa et abrite le site de la mine d’or de SEMAFO Boungou. Il est situé à 140 km environ du chef-lieu de la région de l’Est, Fada N’Gourma.
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 13:08:15 +0000diouf175602 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgOgoni-Angehörige reichen Klage gegen Shell vor Intl. Strafgerichtshof einhttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175608
"Ich kämpfe bis zum letzten Atemzug", 29. Juni 2018
...Esther Kiobel [...] hatte [vor dem Internationalen Strafgerichtshof] gerade eine bahnbrechende Klage zur Rolle* des Ölgiganten Shell bei der Hinrichtung ihres Ehemannes Dr. Barinem Kiobel eingereicht.
Als Reaktion auf weitreichende Proteste gegen die Ölverschmutzung des Nigerdeltas durch Shell wurde Dr. Barinem Kiobel von der nigerianischen Militärregierung gehängt... [Nigerias Militärregierung begann] auf Bitte des Shell-Konzerns um "Unterstützung" [...] brutal gegen die Ogoni vorzugehen...
...Esther Kiobel [brachte] den Fall 2002 vor ein US-amerikanisches Gericht. Doch das Verfahren wurde 2015 aus Zuständigkeitsgründen eingestellt. Die nächste Klage reichte sie vor dem zuständigen Gericht in der Heimat des Konzerns in den Niederlanden ein... Im September 2017 weigerten sich Shells Rechtsanwälte, mehr als 100.000 interne Dokumente [...] auszuhändigen...
Esther Kiobel wartet immer noch darauf, dass ihre Klage gegen Shell vom Gericht akzeptiert wird und ein Verfahren beginnt...
*Shell hat erklärt, dass die Vorwürfe von Amnesty International hinsichtlich seiner derzeitigen Tätigkeiten falsch und unbegründet seien und das komplexe Umfeld, in dem der Konzern agiere, nicht erfassten. Shell weist zudem die Vorwürfe zurück, der Konzern habe das drastische Vorgehen des nigerianischen Militärs in Ogoniland in den 1990ern unterstützt, und erklärt, dass der Konzern "nicht mit den Militärbehörden zusammengearbeitet hat, um Aufstände der Gemeinschaften zu unterdrücken, und in keiner Weise irgendwelche Gewalttaten in Nigeria gefördert oder dafür geworben hat."
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 13:34:15 +0000teufel_4474175608 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgGabon: L’ONG Muyissi environnement apprécie l'ouverture et les actions positives d'Olam mais voudrait mener des investigations indépendantes sur les sites impactés par les projets de l'entreprise https://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175609
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 13:39:20 +0000diouf175609 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgDeutschland: Beweismittel im Prozess gegen Heckler & Koch legen Vorkenntnisse über Lieferungen in mexikanische Krisenregionen nahhttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175611
Seit Mai stehen fünf ehemalige Mitarbeiter von Heckler &amp; Koch in Stuttgart vor Gericht. Sie sollen dafür verantwortlich sein, dass das Waffenunternehmen ab 2006 Sturmgewehre in mexikanische Krisenregionen lieferte – ohne ausreichende Genehmigung. Nicht unsere Schuld, behaupten sowohl der Konzern als auch die Beschuldigten: Die Waffen habe man an die mexikanische Zentralregierung geliefert. Wo sie am Ende landeten, habe Heckler &amp; Koch nicht gewusst...
„Report Mainz“ und der taz liegen jetzt die Lieferverträge zwischen dem Unternehmen und dem mexikanischen Verteidigungsministerium vor. Als Empfänger der Waffen sind in den Dokumenten aus dem Jahr 2006 unter anderem die Bundesstaaten Chiapas und Guerrero aufgeführt – zwei Staaten, in die Heckler &amp; Koch mutmaßlich nicht liefern durfte...
Hintergrund ist die Menschenrechtssituation in beiden Regionen. Polizisten machen dort häufig gemeinsame Sache mit der Drogenmafia und gehen brutal gegen die Bevölkerung vor...
Die Bundesregierung hatte es wegen dieser Situation zunächst abgelehnt, die Lieferung von Sturmgewehren nach Mexiko zu genehmigen. Laut Aussagen im laufenden Prozess vor dem Landgericht Stuttgart hatte vor allem das Auswärtige Amt Einwände. Die Regierung lenkte allerdings ein, nachdem Heckler &amp; Koch später eine neue Endverbleibserklärung der Mexikaner vorgelegt hatte....
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 13:46:21 +0000teufel_4474175611 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgDeutschland: Anklage gegen ehemaligen Mitarbeiter von Heckler & Koch wegen Verstößen gegen Waffenkontrollgesetz erhobenhttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175615
"Prozess gegen Heckler &amp; Koch zeigt Problematik auf", 15. Mai 2018
Die Staatsanwaltschaft Stuttgart hat sechs ehemaligen Mitarbeitern der Rüstungsfirma Heckler &amp; Koch mehr als ein Dutzend gewerbs- und bandenmäßige Verstöße gegen das Waffenkontrollgesetz vorgeworfen. Zum Prozessauftakt am Dienstag vor dem Landgericht Stuttgart sagte Oberstaatsanwalt Karlheinz Erkert, von 2006 bis 2009 hätten die Beschuldigten in 16 Fällen fast 4500 Sturmgewehre sowie Maschinenpistolen, Munition und Zubehör im Wert von 4,1 Millionen Euro in mehrere Unruhe-Regionen Mexikos geliefert, wohin die Waffen gar nicht hätten exportiert werden dürfen. Die Angeklagten hätten den Export wissentlich organisiert und sich davon "nicht unerhebliche Einnahmequellen versprochen"...
Insgesamt sind bis Oktober zunächst 25 Verhandlungstage festgelegt...
Im Kern geht es um die sogenannte Endverbleibserklärung. Sie wird von jenem Staat ausgegeben, der die Waffen kauft und bestätigt, dass diese Waffen dann nicht an Drittländer weiterverkauft werden. Im Falle von Mexiko regelten diese Erklärungen jedoch der Anklage zufolge auch, dass die Waffen nicht in verschiedene Bundesstaaten des Landes geliefert werden dürfen, weil dort die Menschenrechte nicht gewahrt seien und sich Drogenbanden bekämpften...
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 14:05:39 +0000teufel_4474175615 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgL'Union européenne soutient les droits fonciers coutumiers et les droits des populations autochtones, gage d'un développement et d'une paix durableshttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175618
"Foncier rural : l'UE réaffirme son soutien en faveur des droits des populations autochtones", 9 juillet 2018
Les droits fonciers coutumiers et les droits des populations autochtones sont essentiels pour un développement et une paix durables, a réaffirmé...la Haute représentante de l'Union européenne, (UE), Federica Mogherini. “Cette année, nous allons donner 6,9 millions d'euros à l'Arrangement pour le régime foncier et forestier qui met en exergue de manière spécifique les droits à la propriété foncière et à la sécurité des populations autochtones et des communautés locales”, a annoncé...[Mme Mogherini]...au nom de l'UE pour marquer la Journée internationale des populations autochtones. Selon Mme Mogherini, cinq millions d'euros supplémentaires seront octroyés aux défenseurs des droits de l'homme et aux organisations œuvrant sur l'accaparement des terres, le changement climatique et les droits des populations autochtones. “Nous allons poursuivre notre soutien aux populations autochtones pour leur permettre de conserver leurs cultures, leurs identités et leur mode de vie qui font partie de notre culture commune”, a-t-elle indiqué...“A l'occasion de la Journée internationale pour les populations autochtones, nous célébrons les contributions des populations autochtones pour la diversité et la richesse des civilisations et des cultures et en réalité de notre héritage commun... “L'hostilité, la violence et les représailles sont de plus en plus utilisées contre les défenseurs des droits des populations autochtones et de l'environnement, y compris contre le Rapporteur spécial des Nations Unies en matière de droits des populations autochtones, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz. Nous sommes choqués que le nombre de meurtres de tels défenseurs soit estimé à quatre par semaine à travers le monde. Les autorités dans les pays où de tels actes sont commis sont exhortées à intensifier leurs efforts afin de protéger les activistes et à veiller à ce que leurs auteurs soient traduits en justice”, a souligné l'officielle de l'EU....chaque jour, quelque part dans le monde, des populations autochtones sont dépossédées de leurs terres, de leurs territoires et de leurs ressources héritées de leurs ancêtres. “La reddition des comptes et la bonne gouvernance sont essentielles pour une gestion durable des terres, des ressources et de l'environnement et garantissent un accès équitable à la propriété foncière. C'est la raison pour laquelle l'Union européenne appuie les programmes et projets de gestion des terres dans 40 pays à travers le monde avec un budget total de 240 millions d'euros. Rien qu'en Colombie, les efforts ont favorisé l'attribution de titres de propriété collective de 280.000 hectares au profit des communautés autochtones”, a-t-elle ajouté.
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 14:40:22 +0000diouf175618 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgPressemitteilung von Heckler & Koch zum Prozessauftakt wegen illegaler Waffenexporte nach Mexikohttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175620
"Pressemitteilung des Unternehmens Heckler &amp; Koch zum Prozessauftakt Mexiko", 11. Mai 2018
Im Vorfeld der am Dienstag, 15. Mai 2018 beginnenden Hauptverhandlung gegen frühere Mitarbeiter der Heckler &amp; Koch GmbH vor dem Landgericht Stuttgart hat das Unternehmen darauf hingewiesen, dass Heckler &amp; Koch seit Beginn der Ermittlungen nicht nur vollumfänglich kooperiert, sondern aktiv zur Aufklärung der Vorfälle beigetragen und eine umfangreiche Sonderuntersuchung in Auftrag gegeben hat. Die Ergebnisse dieses Untersuchungsberichtes sind den Behörden zur Verfügung gestellt worden.
Heckler &amp; Koch ist sich seiner gesellschaftlichen und rechtlichen Verantwortung bewusst. Daher hat das Unternehmen auf Grund der Vorfälle einschneidende und umfangreiche Veränderungen vorgenommen, um solche Vorgänge für die Zukunft auszuschließen.
So wurden die Vertriebsstrategie grundlegend verändert und neue ethische Standards etabliert. Unsere Produkte werden seither nur noch an Staaten, die als „Grüne Länder“ klare und nachvollziehbare Kriterien erfüllen, geliefert. Dies beinhaltet Staaten, die der EU oder der NATO angehören oder mit der NATO Assoziierungsabkommen geschlossen haben und zusätzlich noch weitere Anforderungen erfüllen.
Darüber hinaus hat Heckler &amp; Koch wegweisende Anpassungen bei den internen Compliance-Management-Systemen vorgenommen, die das Verantwortungsbewusstsein des Unternehmens und seiner Mitarbeiter konstant schärfen, und darüber hinaus auch jeden potentiellen Vertriebspartner einer strengen Compliance-Prüfung unterziehen. Zusätzlich prägen ein neu definierter Verhaltenskodex für Beschäftigte, die Leitfäden „Antikorruption“ und „Kartellrecht“ sowie die „Ethischen Geschäftsgrundlagen“ das verbindliche Unternehmensleitbild...
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 15:03:09 +0000teufel_4474175620 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgTwinings becomes second major tea brand to publish suppliers amid drive for slave-free Indian teahttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175622
"Twinings reveals suppliers amid drive for slave-free Indian tea", 13 August 2018
Tea firm Twinings published a list of the Indian plantations it buys from on Monday, citing the need for transparency to improve conditions in an industry experts say is rife with abuse.
India’s tea industry, the world’s second largest, employs 3.5 million workers and studies have found many live in appalling conditions, below the poverty line...
The British charity [Traidcraft Exchange] launched the campaign ‘Who picked my tea?’ to bring about change for plantation workers in Assam through increased transparency.
Bettys &amp; Taylors Group, which owns brands including Yorkshire Tea, in June became the first major British company to publish their full list of tea suppliers.
“Twinings’ move puts pressure on the other big tea brands – PG Tips, Tetley, Typhoo, and Clipper - to follow suit and publish their lists of suppliers in full,” said Fiona Gooch, a senior policy advisor at Traidcraft Exchange.
It comes as major brands face mounting regulatory and consumer pressure to ensure their products are free of slavery and abusive practices.
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 15:18:22 +0000wilks_4382175622 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgCommentary: UN Draft Treaty on business & human rights needs further clarifications to guarantee legal accountability of corporations and effective remedieshttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175625
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 16:05:13 +0000ducret_4487175625 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgJustice not “special attention”: Feminist Visions for the Binding Treatyhttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175626
This blog is part of the Reflections on the Zero Draft blog series on the proposed binding treaty on business and human rights. We present this series as part of our work to highlight key developments and opportunities for change, with the aim of empowering advocates in civil society, governments and businesses with the evidence and guidance to help define their position and engagement in the treaty process. We believe this initiative is complementary to the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles, and that an inclusive and open debate is crucial to ensure these initiatives deliver for everyone, and that the business &amp; human rights movement continues its 'unity in diversity'.***
We acknowledge the efforts of the Chair of the Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) for the sense of urgency and determination shown in advancing the process to elaborate the elements of a legally binding treaty to regulate Transnational corporations (TNCs) and other business enterprise (OBE) with regards to human rights. However, we are greatly concerned that without a transformative shift in the way that gender equality, women’s human rights and gender justice concerns are articulated, a truly transformative framework to end corporate abuse will not be achieved.
In August 2015, Luisa Lozano, a Kichwa woman from the Saraguro people joined an indigenous mobilisation to defend their right to land from corporation takeovers and demand increased protection of indigenous rights. It is during these protests, that military and police “beat a pregnant women with truncheons, dragging her about 30 meters and spraying her with pepper gas.” Soon thereafter, Luisa Lozano was arrested for defending the pregnant woman and was sentenced to 4 years in prison alongside other women.
Corporate abuse is a key area in the struggle to overcome systemic and structural barriers to gender, social and economic justice. However, the structural causes of women’s economic inequalities and human rights violations remain unaddressed. A feminist approach that challenges the current economic model, which promises growth and progress yet favors huge multinational corporations and concentrates wealth in the hands of a few global elites, is needed now more than ever to push for economic and gender justice. The Binding Treaty has the potential to address systematic corporate power and development that contributes to widening social inequalities, massive extraction and exploitation of natural resources through the regulation of transnational corporations (TNCs) and other business enterprises (OBEs), thus ending decades of corporate impunity and ensuring access to justice for affected communities.
In the recently released zero draft text, there are two instances where women are mentioned alongside other groups. In article 9 on Prevention which highlights the need to carry out meaningful consultations with affected groups giving “special attention to those facing heightened risks of violations of human rights within the context of business activities such as women (…)” and Article 15 on final provisions where States parties shall address specific impacts of business activities while giving “special attention to those facing heightened risks of violations of human rights within the context of business activities, such as women (…).” In Article 15, the text also includes a provision on business activities in conflict-affected areas, which mentions paying “special attention to both gender-based and sexual violence.”
While this is a starting point, the proposed text positioning women as a vulnerable group falls short of feminist demands for gender justice because:
It fails to acknowledge the complexities of corporate power and how they often act in collusion with the State, as seen by the roles of the military, police and judicial system in Luisa Lozano’s arrest and conviction.
The text calls for meaningful consultation yet some of the violations to free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) are due to TNCs and other businesses’ ability to influence processes that are often created to manufacture consent. Thus, there is a need to acknowledge power imbalances and substantive, procedural and practical barriers that women and girls in particular face as relates to FPIC and access to justice.
As the process advances, we envisage that the final text of the Treaty will not just pay “special attention” to women but will have language that addresses the power imbalances, challenges corporate power and advances gender justice. These should be informed by key suggestions from the Feminists For A Binding Treaty coalition who highlight for example the need to:
Include strong and clear language to ensure non-discrimination based on gender. Thus, explicitly state that gender impact assessments shall be conducted by an independent entity chosen, or agreed upon, by the communities and the women from whom information will be gathered, in a process of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC).
Take into account the impact of corporate operations on gender roles and gender-based discrimination, women’s health including prenatal and maternal health, gender-based and sexual violence, gendered division of labour on family and community levels, and access to and control of social and economic resources. Thus, explicitly elaborate on the specific measures that will be taken to address these gender-specific and identity-based risks and create an enabling environment for Human Rights Defenders and whistleblowers.
It is imperative that feminist governments and progressive States who are supporters of women’s rights not only support the Treaty discussions but also actively propose and endorse language that challenges corporate power and advances gender justice.
Finally, while we welcome the Binding Treaty process and the advances made to have a legally binding framework in the near future, we know it will take a lot more than political discussions to tackle corporate greed and impunity. The Binding Treaty is but one avenue on the road to gender justice and corporate accountability. Feminists and Women Human Rights Defenders have been on the frontlines of the struggles, and will continue to demand corporate accountability. Injustices inflicted by the current economic system, from exploitative working conditions to corporate land-grabbing, forced displacement and environmental pollution, often hit women and historically oppressed groups the hardest. But we are not only on the affected side - we are also at the forefront of pursuing justice as part of shaping our feminist realities[1] and the futures we want. We support the Binding Treaty as a necessary step towards realising these feminist realities. Aluta continua!
[1] Feminist realities - At AWID, we understand feminist realities both as current, existing practices that movements are already creating and living, that are critical both to sustain hope and push back against oppressive systems. (Co-creating Feminist Realities, AWID Strategic Plan 2018 -2020)
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 16:19:45 +0000cadier_4429175626 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgDem. Rep. of Congo: Court papers revealed that Gertler received and distributed millions in bribes in connection to DRC mining deals, says Global Witnesshttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175631
"Gertler received and distributed millions in bribes in connection to DRC mining deals, court papers allege", 10 august 2018
New documents related to a case in the UK high court suggest that controversial middleman Dan Gertler received and paid millions in bribes on behalf of Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation (ENRC) in Democratic Republic of Congo...The UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO) has been investigating ENRC for over five years, during which time the company has sought to block the disclosure of an internal investigation carried out by its former lawyers, Dechert. ENRC has even taken Dechert to court to dispute a £16 million legal bill...this case...has...revealed the new incriminating suggestions about ENRC’s dealings with Gertler. ENRC claims that Dechert over-reached its mandate, blew findings out of proportion, and provided material to the SFO and even to the media. Dechert and its lawyers deny this...Dechert says it found “evidence strongly suggesting widespread fraud, corruption, sanctions breaches and other wrongdoing reaching into the most senior levels of ENRC's management”...ENRC has rejected allegations of corruption in its dealings, and the company’s general counsel told...that the SFO case against ENRC should be closed...Other major companies have suffered following partnerships with Gertler, who was sanctioned by the US in December for “corrupt mining and oil deals” in DRC. In 2016 US hedge fund Och-Ziff admitted to its role in a bribery conspiracy in Africa and entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Department of Justice, paying out over $400m as part of the deal... Glencore...has been seeking to distance itself from him following the Och-Ziff case and Gertler’s designation as a sanctioned individual...Gertler has consistently denied any wrongdoing in any of his transactions in DRC. Glencore has also refuted allegations of corruption in its deals with Gertler.
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 18:41:00 +0000diouf175631 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgRép. dém. du Congo: Des documents judiciaires révélent que Gertler a reçu et distribué des millions de dollars de pots de vin à l'occasion de tractations minières en RDC, selon Global Witness https://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175632
"Gertler a reçu et distribué des millions de dollars de pots de vin à l'occasion de tractations minières en RDC, selon des documents judiciaires", 10 août 2018
De nouveaux documents se rapportant à une affaire traitée par la Cour Suprême britannique suggèrent que Dan Gertler...a reçu et payé des millions de dollars de pots de vin au nom de la Corporation des Ressources Naturelles Eurasienne (Eurasian Natural Resources Corporation, ENRC) en République Démocratique du Congo (RDC). Depuis 2011, Global Witness a régulièrement mis en question la légitimité des tractations menées par Gertler au nom d'ENRC. Les nouvelles preuves renforcent ces investigations pionnières. Le Bureau des Fraudes Graves (Serious Fraud Office, SFO) du Royaume Uni enquête sur l'ENRC depuis plus de cinq ans, et pendant tout ce temps la compagnie a cherché à empêcher la publication des résultats d'une enquête interne effectuée par ses anciens avocats, Dechert. L'ENRC a même engagé une procédure judiciaire contre Dechert pour contester une facture de 16 millions de livres ; ironiquement, c'est cette affaire qui a révélé les nouveaux éléments incriminateurs quant aux tractations d’ENRC avec Gertler. L'ENRC affirme que Dechert a excédé son mandat, lui reprochant d'avoir rendu publiques trop d'observations, et d'avoir fourni des éléments d'information à la SFO et même aux médias. Dechert et ses avocats nient ces points, et les documents soumis pour leur défense auprès de la Cour Suprême font apparaitre des détails stupéfiants de l'enquête effectuée par Dechert au sein de l'ENRC. Dechert disent qu'ils ont trouvé "des preuves suggérant fortement la pratique répandue de fraude, de corruption, d'infractions et autres malversations, et ce jusque dans les échelons les plus élevés de la direction de l'ENRC », dont ils ont estimé qu'elles devaient être rapportées par l'ENRC au SFO pour éviter d'avoir à affronter une enquête pénale...L'ENRC a rejeté les allégations de corruption dans ses tractations, et l'avocat de la compagnie a déclaré à Bloomberg que l'affaire opposant SFO à ENRC devrait être close...D'autres grandes compagnies ont subi des préjudices après avoir recouru aux services de Gertler, qui a été sanctionné par les Etats-Unis en décembre dernier pour « des pratiques de corruption dans des tractations concernant l'industrie minière et le pétrole » en RDC. En 2016, le fonds de couverture états-unien Och-Ziff a admis son rôle dans une vaste entreprise de corruption en Afrique et a conclu un accord de cessation des poursuites avec le Ministère de la Justice, s'acquittant au passage du paiement de plus de 400 millions de dollars pour solder cet accord...Glencore...entretenait depuis 10 ans des relations de partenariat avec Gertler, mais il a cherché à s'en distancer à la suite de l'affaire Och-Ziff et des sanctions prises contre Gertler...Gertler a systématiquement nié toute malversation dans toutes ses transactions en RDC. Glencore a de son côté réfuté les allégations de corruption dans les affaires les liant à Gertler.
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 19:00:54 +0000diouf175632 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgThe Zero Draft of the Proposed Business and Human Rights Treaty, Part I: The Beginning of an End? https://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175634
This blog is part of the Reflections on the Zero Draft blog series on the proposed binding treaty on business and human rights. We present this series as part of our work to highlight key developments and opportunities for change, with the aim of empowering advocates in civil society, governments and businesses with the evidence and guidance to help define their position and engagement in the treaty process. We believe this initiative is complementary to the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles, and that an inclusive and open debate is crucial to ensure these initiatives deliver for everyone, and that the business &amp; human rights movement continues its 'unity in diversity'.
In September 2013, when Ecuador expressed its intent to initiate a process to negotiate a legally binding international instrument, not many in the business and human rights (BHR) field would have thought that there would be a draft of the proposed instrument in less than five years. If the unanimous endorsement of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (GPs) by the UN Human Rights Council was hailed as “the end of the beginning”, the release of the zero draft by the Chairperson of the open-ended intergovernmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights (OEIGWG) could be regarded as “the beginning of an end”. It is the end which requires and enforces compliance with human rights norms as a pre-condition for doing business. Respecting human rights must neither be discretionary for business nor should it be dependent on the so-called business case.
There is legitimate scepticism about the value of human rights treaties generally. In the specific BHR context, doubts are also expressed about the political feasibility of negotiating a treaty. These debates are likely to continue and remain unresolved. However, as long as we have a system of international human rights treaties, we are well past the time to ask whether we need a BHR treaty.
Not only is a BHR treaty needed, it is doable at this point of time in history. As compared to previous two attempts (i.e., the Code of 1990 and the Norms of 2003), the current treaty process has a better chance of success for several reasons. First, the current treaty process has a “springboard” of the GPs. The broad consensus around the GPs means that there is no going back for states from doing everything that is needed to ensure that businesses actually respect human rights, not merely claim to be doing so. Second, an unprecedented civil society mobilisation has not only put pressure on states to walk the talk on human rights but also operated as a bulwark against corporate capture of the process. Third, states have started to face the brunt of corporate misdeeds – from tax evasion to interference in democratic processes, triggering internal conflicts, and claiming millions of dollars in investment arbitration awards. Fourth, there is a growing realisation that neither voluntary initiatives alone nor measures merely at national level will ever be adequate to regulate effectively the conduct of today’s businesses.
Despite these positive factors, the resistance to binding rules remains at all levels. Creative diplomacy and innovative drafting could, however, help in navigating through this resistance at the international level and bring us closer to the end which has proved to be elusive so far. And the zero draft provides a “concrete” reference point for further discussion and refinement of the provisions of a BHR treaty. Any meaningful analysis of the zero draft should be informed by two broad considerations: (i) the role of a BHR treaty, and (ii) the key objectives that such a treaty ought to achieve.
Regarding the role of the proposed treaty, there should not be any illusion that it would fix all the existing regulatory gaps or end completely the current state of corporate impunity. This treaty would be only an additional regulatory tool to ensure that businesses comply with human rights norms. As businesses are complex regulatory targets, multiple regulatory tools should be employed in tandem to achieve some level of regulatory efficacy. Neither existing regulatory initiatives nor the proposed BHR treaty should be taken as the last word on the subject: additional regulatory initiatives, including treaties, might be needed in the future to deal effectively with ever-growing threats to human rights from the state-business nexus.
As I have argued elsewhere, the proposed BHR treaty should try to achieve several objectives. I will outline below four such objectives and will then assess, in Part II of this blog, how far the zero draft is geared towards achieving these objectives. First, the treaty should nudge states to act collectively and thus lay out a blueprint for a “global action plan” in the BHR field. The collective action could, for example, entail making human rights due diligence mandatory, creating economic incentives for responsible companies, and establishing a mechanism to facilitate international cooperation and mutual assistance among states.
Second, the treaty should address the existing asymmetry between the rights and obligations of businesses, which is exacerbated by international investment agreements (IIAs). Addressing this asymmetry would require recognising legally enforceable human rights obligations of companies, protecting human rights defenders from persecution by both states and businesses, and managing the adverse human rights impacts of IIAs.
Third, the proposed BHR treaty should respond to governance gaps in “hard cases”: where there is no clear business case for human rights and the concerned state is unwilling or incapable to perform its duty to protect against human rights abuses by private actors. Various tools can be used to achieve this objective, e.g. institutionalising the role of civil society organisations in corporate accountability, harnessing extraterritorial modes of regulation, and creating international complaint mechanisms.
Fourth, the treaty should require states to remove the well-documented barriers that victims face in accessing effective remedies and in turn hold companies accountable for human rights abuses. Removing these barriers would require extensive legal reforms, strengthening international cooperation amongst states, invoking the full range of remedial mechanisms, recognising the importance of preventive, redressive and deterrent remedies, and providing special support to vulnerable or marginalised groups affected by business activities.
To what extent the zero draft meets these four objectives will be examined in Part II of this blog.
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 19:55:56 +0000cadier_4429175634 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgBrasil: Min. Pub. Federal e Estadual do Pará propõem acordo sobre medidas emergenciais relativas aos vazamentos da Hydro Alunorte; acordo consultou atingidos https://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175635
"MPF e MPPA apresentam novo texto com proposta de acordo para governo do Pará e Hydro — Procuradoria da República no Pará-A minuta do acordo já foi enviada às partes. Acordo trata de medidas emergenciais e não implica retorno das atividades", 13 de agosto de 2018O Ministério Público Federal...e o Ministério Público do Estado do Pará...apresentaram proposta de acordo para a implantação de medidas emergenciais relativas aos vazamentos na planta industrial da Hydro Alunorte em Barcarena (PA), ocorridos em fevereiro de 2018. O principal objetivo é a implantação de medidas com base nos princípios da precaução e prevenção, que permitam avaliar, indicar providências e cessar os danos socioambientais provocados pela atividade industrial da Hydro Alunorte, em decorrência dos vazamentos e de irregularidades verificadas a partir de fevereiro de 2018. O texto inclui cláusulas do acordo que estava sendo negociado pelo governo do Pará, que aceitou assinar conjuntamente o termo de ajustamento de conduta com a empresa. A minuta...será...examinada pelas partes...A íntegra do texto também ficará disponível para o público em geral (link abaixo). A proposta...foi construída com base em documentos técnicos e nas contribuições de uma audiência pública e de várias reuniões realizadas com as comunidades atingidas. Sugestões feitas pelos moradores do entorno da planta industrial foram incluídas na minuta...O...acordo tem caráter preliminar e emergencial e não trata da integralidade da responsabilidade ambiental decorrente dos danos ocasionados, tampouco autoriza qualquer retomada de operação integral por parte da empresa...[E]xplicita que todos os pagamentos a serem feitos pela empresa como consequência do acordo não significam quitação de qualquer obrigação de reparação por danos materiais e morais causados pelos vazamentos, nem impedem a discussão judicial dos valores por parte dos moradores que se sentirem prejudicados...[I]nclui obrigações para o estado do Pará e para a empresa. Um dos principais pontos...é a constituição de...Comitê de Acompanhamento para o cumprimento das medidas...[,]...externo às partes, independente, composto por participantes da sociedade civil e terá acesso a informações mensais sobre a execução dos compromissos...
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 19:57:39 +0000neiva175635 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgThe Zero Draft of the Proposed Business and Human Rights Treaty, Part II: On the Right Track, but Not Ready Yethttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175636
This blog is part of the Reflections on the Zero Draft blog series on the proposed binding treaty on business and human rights. We present this series as part of our work to highlight key developments and opportunities for change, with the aim of empowering advocates in civil society, governments and businesses with the evidence and guidance to help define their position and engagement in the treaty process. We believe this initiative is complementary to the implementation of the UN Guiding Principles, and that an inclusive and open debate is crucial to ensure these initiatives deliver for everyone, and that the business &amp; human rights movement continues its 'unity in diversity'.
In this second part of the blog, I assess the extent to which the zero draft is geared towards achieving the four objectives of the proposed BHR treaty outlined earlier.
Nudging collective state action
The zero draft defines “business activities of a transnational character” as any “for-profit economic activity … including activities…that take place or involve actions, persons or impact in two or more national jurisdictions”. This definition would capture a huge range of businesses and their activities, which could not be regulated effectively by each state acting alone. The treaty should, therefore, nudge states to take collective action: this can take the form of joint action as well as individual action in pursuance of a collective goal.
In this context, advancing “international cooperation with a view towards fulfilling States’ obligations under international human rights law” as one of the purposes of the treaty makes sense. Article 11 requires state parties to “cooperate in good faith” and “afford one another the widest measure of mutual legal assistance in initiating and carrying out investigations, prosecutions and judicial proceedings in relation to the cases covered by this Convention”. Implementing this provision would require states signing new bilateral or multilateral agreements, or amending exiting ones. To ensure some broad consistency, it may be desirable to develop a few standard templates of such agreements. Moreover, it would be crucial to secure mutual legal assistance, under other existing arrangements, even from non-state parties to the BHR treaty.
Multi-facet international cooperation envisaged by Article 12 should also facilitate collective action, as not all states would be equally-equipped to implement the proposed treaty. Building capacity, sharing challenges as well as good practices with peers, and collaborating with civil society will prepare the groundwork for states to take necessary measures to achieve collective goals.
Article 9 of the zero draft expects state parties to introduce domestic legislation requiring mandatory human rights due diligence (HRDD) as a preventive measure. This is a step in the right direction. However, the “minimum” due diligence steps proposed in Article 9 should be aligned with the four-step HRDD process under the GPs and be also informed by evolving good practice recommendations in this area. Otherwise, there would be a risk of different state parties enacting uneven and/or hollow HRDD legislation, which might prove either too costly for businesses or illusory in terms of impact.
The zero draft relies exclusively on sanctions to ensure that business activities of a transnational character are consistent with human rights norms. While disincentives are critical, equally vital would be for state parties to create economic incentives for responsible businesses, not merely in domestic public procurement policies but also in all commercial dealings (e.g., contracts, loans, export credits) of a transnational nature.
Addressing asymmetry between rights and obligations
The zero draft of the treaty tries to address the asymmetry between the rights and obligations of businesses by proposing to attach legal consequences for human rights violations. Article 10 provides that “State Parties shall ensure through their domestic law that natural and legal persons may be held criminally, civil or administratively liable for violations of human rights”. Legal liability presupposes breach of an obligation. However, it is odd that the zero draft does not explicitly impose an obligation on businesses of a transnational character to respect human rights. The closet it comes to doing so is in the Preamble, which underlines that “all business enterprises, regardless of their size, sector, operational context, ownership and structure shall respect all human rights”.
The current formulation will not work. The proposed treaty should state explicitly the obligation of businesses to respect all internationally recognised human rights. Doing so would be a “logical extension” of the GPs, as businesses already have a responsibility to respect human rights, the breach of which triggers an access to effective remedy. The BHR treaty would also need to specify with some precision the contours of this corporate obligation. For example, what does “all international human rights” actually mean under Article 3? Is the obligation merely to respect human rights, or would this also include an obligation to protect against violation by other entities which a business controls or has a sufficiently close relation?
It is worth noting that this preambular declaration relates to all business enterprises, while the substantive treaty provisions focus only on the “business activities of a transnational character”. There are two elements of this creative approach, which tries to overcome the stalemate around the controversial footnote of Resolution 26/9. The first element is adopting a “soft hybrid” approach: whereas most of the treaty provisions focus on transnational activities of companies, the Preamble acknowledges that all business enterprises have an obligation to respect human rights. The second element is to shift the focus of regulation from “actors” to “activities” – all business enterprises are covered so long as their for-profit activities have a transnational character.
Article 13(6)/(7) of the zero draft requires states to address an asymmetrical nature of existing trade and international investment agreements (IIAs). Future IIAs that states negotiate “shall not contain any provisions that conflict with the implementation of this Convention and shall ensure upholding human rights in the context of business activities by parties benefiting from such agreements”. Moreover, states should also ensure “that all existing and future trade and investment agreements shall be interpreted in a way that is least restrictive on their ability to respect and ensure their obligations under this Convention”. These provisions, which are in line with Principle 9 of the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (GPs), do not go far enough or in precise details as to what is needed to humanise IIAs. Nevertheless, these provisions could push states to reform their IIAs to ensure that investors do not castrate governments from taking necessary steps to protect human rights. In addition, the Committee envisaged under Article 14 of the zero draft could unpack what upholding human rights would entail for investors seeking protection of IIAs.
The proposed BHR treaty should also try to address another asymmetry: protect human rights defenders (HRDs) from persecution by businesses directly or in connivance with state agencies. Article 8 outlines at length the rights of victims, but does not make any explicit reference to the rights of HRDs. Similarly, while the definition of “victims” in Article 4 is quite wide, it may not capture the full range of HRDs, e.g., those who are assisting affected communities. These gaps should be addressed. Moreover, the treaty should require both states and businesses to ensure that domestic legal processes are not used to target legitimate activities of HRDs.
Responding to governance gaps in “hard cases”
The zero draft should be alive to the sad reality that some states and/or some businesses are unlikely to do what is expected of them. In such situations, the victims should not be without any remedial recourse. Apart from effectiveness concerns related to the working of a potential international body, establishing such a body – even for egregious corporate human abuses – may not be politically feasible at this stage. The zero draft does well not to include such a proposal, but at the same time leaves open the possibility of “any further development needed” to implement the treaty (Article 14(5)). The proposal to establish a Committee of Experts is welcome. It is disappointing, however, to see that the Committee is not given a mandate to accept complaints, at least in selected emblematic cases or subject to the requirement of exhausting local remedies. Accepting selected cases would allow the Committee to develop concrete guidance for similar futures cases or situations.
Extraterritorial regulation is a “necessary evil” in today’s world, including to deal with hard cases in the BHR field. The zero draft tries to strike a compromise (at least on paper) on this front: while provisions related to prevention and legal liability under Articles 9 and 10 are expected to go beyond one’s territory, Article 13(1) reminds state parties to operate “in a manner consistent with the principles of sovereign equality and territorial integrity of States and that of non-intervention in the domestic affairs of other States”. A similar balancing attempt is visible between liberal criteria for jurisdiction under Article 5 and a declaration under Article 13(2) that nothing in this treaty “entitles a State Party to undertake in the territory of another State the exercise of jurisdiction and performance of functions that are reserved exclusively for the authorities of that other State by its domestic law”. The crucial oiling to manage unavoidable tension in exterritorial regulation could be provided by provisions on mutual assistance and international cooperation and the Committee clarifying rules of engagement to guide state behaviour. The proposed BHR treaty should, however, have a provision to manage multiplicity of proceedings in cases where several state parties could have jurisdiction over a dispute.
Removing barriers in access to effective remedy
Ensuring “an effective access to justice and remedy to victims of human rights violations” is one of the declared purposes of the proposed BHR treaty. Article 8 of the zero draft acknowledges various rights of victims, including “the right to fair, effective and prompt access to justice and remedies in accordance with international law”. This provision also requires state parties to guarantee these rights and overcome various barriers that prevent victims from seeking access to effective remedies. Provisions related to jurisdiction (Article 5), statute of limitations (Article 6), applicable law (Article 7), legal liability (Article 10), mutual legal assistance (Article 11), and international cooperation (Article 12) are also aimed at facilitating victims’ access to effective remedies.
It is, however, odd that state obligations to remove barriers are clubbed together with “rights of victims” under Article 8. This is perhaps a result of the zero draft not containing any general provision on the obligations of states or businesses: individuals have rights and that is why both states and businesses have obligations. This is a major gap that should be fixed in future drafts of the BHR treaty. It also seems that the zero draft does not give adequate weight to preventive remedies like injunctions (though it mentions guarantees of non-repetition) despite its focus on prevention through HRDD. As no single remedy could prove to be effective, a “bouquet of remedies”, including a meaningful apology, should be available to victims to achieve full reparation.
Moreover, the proposed treaty should make use of the potential of non-judicial remedial mechanisms (including national human rights institutions) in providing or facilitating access to effective remedy in business-related human rights abuses. It should also pay greater attention to dealing with corporate human rights abuses experienced differently and often disproportionately by marginalised or vulnerable groups.
The key to operationalise the treaty provisions strengthening access to effective remedy would be states making far-reaching changes to their legislation to remove barriers. The treaty could not possibly go into specific details as to how these barriers should be removed. Therefore, drawing inspiration from the OHCHR’s Accountability and Remedy Project and recommendations from others such as Amnesty International and the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights, model laws should be developed to provide states concrete guidance which takes into account their specific circumstances. The Committee of Experts under the proposed BHR treaty may be given this task.
In short, despite gaps, ambiguities and structural incoherence, the zero draft of the proposed BHR treaty is a step in the right direction to obligate businesses to respect human rights. No instrument is perfect or self-sufficient to regulate effectively the conduct of globally-connected business enterprises. The proposed treaty would be a much-needed addition to reinforce existing regulatory tools.
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 20:08:48 +0000cadier_4429175636 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgFIFA adds defamation & removes corruption from code of ethicshttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175643
"FIFA has removed the word corruption from its latest code of ethics", 13 Aug 2018
Football officials and players will find the word "corruption" missing from the latest version of the code of ethics governing their conduct...Corruption was scrubbed as an official misdemeanour...It will be now be even easier for FIFA to banish critics...A new offence has been introduced in the ethics code — defamation. There are no specific examples, providing flexibility for the ethics committee to decide on the burden of proof..."Persons bound by this code are forbidden from making any public statements of a defamatory nature towards FIFA and/or towards any other person bound by this code in the context of FIFA events",...the new code states...Those found to have defamed FIFA will be banned from any football-related activities for up to 2 years...Bribery is still prohibited in the ethics code, but the ability to prosecute cases has been weakened...When asked by Associated Press for clarity on the new policies, FIFA said the changes were based on proposals from the ethics committee.
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 21:06:47 +0000zbona_4272175643 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgMéxico: ONG, autoridades y empresarios hoteleros presentan alianza para prevenir violencia y trabajo infantilhttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/m%C3%A9xico-ong-autoridades-y-empresarios-hoteleros-presentan-alianza-para-prevenir-violencia-y-trabajo-infantil
“Presentan alianza para prevenir violencia y trabajo infantil en Acapulco”, 6 de agosto de 2018
La Secretaría de Turismo del Gobierno Federal (SECTUR), el Complejo Turístico Mundo Imperial y la organización internacional Save the Children presentaron…una alianza para prevenir la violencia y el trabajo infantil en Acapulco de Juárez, en el estado de Guerrero…El objetivo de esta colaboración es implementar acciones que reduzcan los riesgos de los niños y niñas durante las horas en las que ninguna persona adulta…puede hacerse cargo de ellos. Se apuesta así por las ludotecas infantiles como estrategia comunitaria para mejorar su seguridad y reducir la vulnerabilidad frente a la trata de personas y la explotación sexual y laboral de niñas, niños y adolescentes en el contexto de los viajes y el turismo…”En zonas turísticas, la prevalencia del trabajo infantil es una realidad que debemos combatir. Por ello, esta alianza es estratégica para asegurar el cumplimiento de los derechos de niños y niñas”, explicó el Director Nacional de Programas de Save the Children…Por su parte… Mundo Imperial declaró que, con esta alianza, Mundo Imperial reafirma su compromiso con el desarrollo integral de Acapulco y Guerrero, pues ante una realidad que lastima visiblemente a la sociedad, realiza acciones que contribuyen de manera significativa a prevenir en su niñez la violencia, el abuso y el trabajo infantil…
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 22:16:42 +0000ortiz_4435175646 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgProzess gegen ehemalige Mitarbeiter von Heckler & Koch wegen illegaler Waffenexporte nach Mexiko beginnthttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/108566
Am 15. Mai 2018 begann am Stuttgarter Landgericht der Prozess gegen ehemalige Mitarbeiter von Heckler &amp; Koch wegen der Vorwürfe gegen das Kriegswaffenkontrollgesetz und das Außenwirtschaftsgesetz vorsätzlich verstoßen zu haben. In den Jahren 2006 bis 2009 hat der deutsche Waffenhersteller illegal Waffen in Konfliktregionen in Mexiko exportiert, trotz des bestehenden Exportverbots der Bundesregierung. Im Dezember 2014 fanden Ermittler in Mexiko Waffen von Heckler &amp; Koch, die im September 2014 bei der Erschießung von Demonstranten durch Polizeikräfte verwendet wurden. Auch im Fall der seit September 2014 vermissten 43 Studenten besteht der Verdacht, dass Sturmgewehre von Heckler und Koch zum Einsatz gekommen sind.
Im Dezember 2014 haben wir das Unternehmen aufgefordert, zu den Vorwürfen Stellung zu nehmen. Die Antwort des Unternehmens finden Sie untenstehend.
Für die Rosa-Luxemburg-Stiftung verfolgt der ehemalige Bundestagsabgeordnete Jan van Aken (Die Linke) den Prozess gegen Heckler &amp; Koch seit dem ersten Prozesstag. Weitere Informationen finden Sie hier.
Mehr Informationen in englischer Sprache sind hier verfügbar.
Mon, 05 Jan 2015 14:45:57 +0000ebert108566 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgCambodia: Govt. pledges funds to unpaid workers following factory's closurehttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175574
"Ministry pledges funds to unpaid workers", 8 August 2018
The Ministry of Labour has pledged to allocate a special fund to assist garment workers who were deprived of their wages following the closure of their factory at Phnom Penh’s Por Senchey district amid the death of its owner.
The ministry’s Labour Dispute Committee deputy secretary-general Vong Sovann said officials visited Julee Apparel Factory...to investigate the protest carried out by the disgruntled workers.
...The factory, a sub-contractor for international brands like Primark and Kie&amp;Kie....
About 100 workers staged a protest outside their factory and blocked the roads for an hour last week demanding the company resolve their grouses immediately. The factory was in operation for only six months.
Srey Savorn, a 35-year-old mother of four...said...“We have no money and want them to solve this problem quickly....”
Mon, 13 Aug 2018 22:59:33 +0000cubelo_4417175574 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgCambodia: Indigenous groups ask govt. to grant land concessions instead of forced relocationshttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/node/175576
"Indigenous groups call for a halt to forced relocations", 10 August 2018
Over 100 indigenous groups from eight of the Kingdom's provinces asked the government...to grant them land concessions instead of forcing their relocation.
...A joint statement issued by the coalition said: "The development we want should be consistent with our will and be in accordance with policies which inform and have prior consultation with us, and are open to agreements with respect to the United Nations' statements on indigenous people's rights that the Cambodian government voted to support on September 13, 2007."
...Both Lan Feng Rui Reng and Mega First were two companies mentioned in the report as having gotten land concessions that negatively impacted indigenous groups. They also called for an end to intimidation and any prevention of cultural ceremonies.
...the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Cambodia is working to support the community of indigenous people and assisting them through the process of obtaining land title deeds.
OHCHR has encouraged the government to provide opportunities for indigenous people to demonstrate their cultures and traditions.
Mon, 13 Aug 2018 23:18:54 +0000cubelo_4417175576 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgEstados Unidos: Una Corte de California halla a Monsanto culpable de cáncer en jardinero que empleó glifosato; con comentarios de la empresahttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/estados-unidos-una-corte-de-california-halla-a-monsanto-culpable-de-c%C3%A1ncer-en-jardinero-que-emple%C3%B3-glifosato-con-comentarios-de-la-empresa
Pese a su negativa a reconocer los daños en la salud, Monsanto, de Bayer pierde caso ante una Corte y deberá pagar indemnización a Dewayne Johnson, un jardinero que asperjó jardines con RoundUp, cuyo ingrediente principal, glifosato, ha sido señalado por otras víctimas en América Latina, como responsable de muertes y enfermedades. La empresa ha apelado la sentencia, aunque hay 4.000 casos similares pendientes en tribunales de ese país.
Mon, 13 Aug 2018 17:33:22 +0000romero175547 at https://www.business-humanrights.org“Bayer se hunde en bolsa tras la millonaria condena por el cáncer de un cliente”https://www.business-humanrights.org/es/%E2%80%9Cbayer-se-hunde-en-bolsa-tras-la-millonaria-condena-por-el-c%C3%A1ncer-de-un-cliente%E2%80%9D
13 de agosto de 2018
Las acciones de Bayer se dejaban hasta un 12% este lunes en bolsa en la reacción de los inversores a la sentencia que reconoció el viernes en Estados Unidos que su herbicida RoundUp, originalmente de Monsanto y que contiene el polémico glifosato, jugó un papel determinante en el cáncer de un hombre que utilizaba el producto, por lo que deberá pagar 289 millones de dólares…La decisión abre la puerta a miles de demandas, que podrían suponer un desembolso multimillonario para la alemana, que en todo caso ha recurrido el caso, apenas un par de meses después de haber cerrado la compra de Monsanto. Hay unos 4.000 casos similares pendientes de resolución en los tribunales estadounidenses…Monsanto argumenta que el tipo de cáncer contraído por DeWayne Johnson, el demandante, tarda muchos años en formarse. El corto período entre la primera exposición de Johnson al producto en 2012 y su diagnóstico en 2014 hace imposible cualquier conexión entre la enfermedad y el producto, según la compañía…La decisión “no cambia el hecho de que más de 800 estudios y revisiones científicas, y conclusiones de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de EE.UU., los Institutos Nacionales de Salud de EE.UU. y las autoridades reguladoras de alrededor del mundo respaldan el hecho de que el glifosato no causa cáncer , y que no causó el cáncer del señor Johnson”, dijo el vicepresidente de Monsanto, Scott Partridge, en un comunicado el viernes.
Mon, 13 Aug 2018 17:35:49 +0000romero175548 at https://www.business-humanrights.orgPerú: Con promesa de industria eléctrica “de forma correcta y sostenible”, gobierno anuncia que la producción de litio servirá a autos eléctricoshttps://www.business-humanrights.org/es/per%C3%BA-con-promesa-de-industria-el%C3%A9ctrica-%E2%80%9Cde-forma-correcta-y-sostenible%E2%80%9D-gobierno-anuncia-que-la-producci%C3%B3n-de-litio-servir%C3%A1-a-autos-el%C3%A9ctricos
“Perú buscará suministrar litio y cobre a la industria mundial de autos eléctricos” – 11 de agosto de 2018
La extracción de litio y cobre en el Perú serán insumos que requerirán diversas industrias en el mundo para la fabricación de nuevos productos, como los vehículos eléctricos, sostuvo el viceministro de Minas, Miguel Incháustegui…"El litio, así como el cobre, son metales del futuro porque forman parte de la demanda para los nuevos productos que se fabricarán a nivel mundial, como los autos eléctricos y las baterías”, señaló el funcionario…Al referirse sobre el hallazgo de la veta de litio en Puno por parte de la compañía Macusani Yellowcake, Incháustegui dijo que la compañía realizará una nueva exploración para confirmar la presencia de reservas existentes…De otro lado, Incháustegui dijo que si bien la legislación vigente establece un marco para la minería no metálica, se requieren cambios para un mayor desarrollo de otros recursos como el litio o el uranio…"Hay temas por implementar [para la extracción del litio] en lo que se refiere a procedimientos, porque también se ha encontrado uranio, y eso se tiene que reglamentar correctamente. La normativa actual está apta, pero hay que precisar algunos temas", sostuvo Incháustegui a Andina.
Mon, 13 Aug 2018 19:49:42 +0000romero175556 at https://www.business-humanrights.org